Portable turn-table for automobiles.



1.13 L; JORGENSEN PORTABLE TURNTABLE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

T M m 'L m D E 4L H N 0 H A c U P ,P A

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Suva-mtoz CIorjen ,aatyen Sen a PI 1. P. L. JORGENSENI.

Papntefi Dec-18, 191 7.

3VSHEETSSHEET 2.

' Patented Dec. 18,1917.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3 v lll'll JWT? J. P. L. JORGEN'SEN. PORTABLE TURN TABLEFOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.1917.

JORGEN r. L. c'rozaeunsnmor oiuanajuunaasm, 7

PORTABLE Tonia-TABLE ron AUTOMOBILES.

' Application filed J'u1y5, 1917:. Serial 110178589.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, J ORGEN P. L. J onemn.

sEN, a citizen of the United'States, residing I zit-Omaha, in the countyof Douglas-and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Portable Turn- Tables for Automobiles, of which thefollowing is aspecification; v

This invention relatesto a portable turntable particularly useful ingarages, for changing the position of automobiles where a floor spacemay be of limitedarea, and has for its object, broadly,'to provide sucha construction that vehicles I may be readily mounted upon or removedfrom the turntable, and while mounted thereon may be swung to anydesired position, the parts to be so arranged'that they will be durablein Wear and that all stresses may be adequately sustained, andalso thatonly a limited force will be required for operation. I

The invention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement'of parts; as described herein and claimed, and asillustrated in the accompanying drawing, 'it being understood thatchanges in size,

form, proportion and minor details may be made within the scope of theappended claims. 1 J

In the drawing, Figure I is a partly broken, top plan view'of theturntable. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same, the axle-leversbeing shifted to permit circular movements of the platform. Fig. 3 is aview in longitudinalsection on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. .4 is atransverse section between lines44, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail showing arock-lever. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detail views to clearly showthe mounting of'the levers for a pull-and-push rod for controlling theshoes of the trackplates.

Referring now to the drawing which illus trates one embodiment of theinvention, a suitable platform is provided consisting of a pair ofgrooved plates or tracks 1, preferably constructed of channel iron,maintained substantially parallel by the pair of cross-plates 2. Theplatform is also provided, midway between its ends, with a cross-plate3, and with segmental tread-plates 4. While the plates?) and 1 tend toreinforce the platform, they also perform'other functions.-

Eacli track-plate is provided on its lower side with a pair ofaxle-levers 5, each hav- Specification. of ietters Patent.

.Patented Dec. is, 19 1?.

ing a pivotal mounting midway between ends upon a track-plate, asindicated at 6, and upon the outer end of each axle-levenis mounted awheel 7.

. 1 In orderthatthe levers 5 may be simultaneously-swung 45 degreestothe position shown in Fig. 2 to permit circular IllOVe-; ments of theplatform, certain mechanism is provided whichis of simple construction,and may be conveniently operated by a single hand-lever 8 when appliedto the crank- .shaft 9, said shaft 9 being mounted in suitable bearingsand supported by the frame or platform.

-At 10 is indicated a draw-bar disposed midway between the track-platesupon the upper sides of the cross-plates 2 between the outer ends of thesegmental plates 4, said draw-bar being adapted to be reciprocatedlongitudinally by the rotatable movements of the crank shaft 9, since alink 11 is piv-.

otally connected at its respective ends with the crank-shaft anddraw-bar, the latter,

during its sliding movements, having bearmgs near its ends, upon thecross-plates 2,

the outer end-portions of the segmental plates 4 operating as guides formaintaining the draw-bar parallel with the track-plates.

Disposed below the cross-plate 3 and. secured thereto by keepers 12 is abracket 13, and pivotally mounted as indicated at 14; (Fig. 5,) uponsaid bracket is a triangular rock-lever 15 provided with an arm a and apair of opposed arms 6, said rock-lever being adapted to-be actuated bythe movements of the draw-barsince a link 16 is pivotally connected atits respective ends with the arm a of said rock-lever and with thedraw-bar.

Numerals 17 indicate a pair of actuating plates, these being disposed atthe lower side of the platform and adapted to be simultaneously movedtransversely thereof in directions opposed to each other below thetrackplates 1, the cross-plates 3, and the segmental plates 4, byoperation of therocklever 15, since each arm I) of said rock-lever isprovided with a link 18 pivotally mounted upon its end, the oppositeends of links 18 being pivotally mounted upon an actuatingplate 17, asplainly shown in Fig. 2.

Thesimultaneous movements of the actuating-plates 17, thus described,will cause swinging movements, horizontally, of the axle-levers 5 since,as best shown in Fig. 2,

I connecting-plates or links 19 are provided,

each having a pivotal mounting for its respectiveends upon anactuating-plate and "an axle-lever. I

The links, leversyand draw-bar thus described are preferably of flat,attenuated form, so that. while adapted-to resist stresses to advantage,they may be disposed to occupy a limited space, for it will beappreciated that the traclsplates should be disposed as near thegroundor floor of a garage as 'possiblevfor convenience in moving. automobilesthereon; and the arts thus described areso adgusted that friction willbe scarcely appreciable when, by use of the and-lever 8, the axle-levers5 are swung, in

either d1rection, approximately 45 degrees.

In order that the stresses directed to the actuatingrplates 17 may beuniformly sustainedyand thatthey may bemai-ntained parallel with thetrack-platesl during their simultaneous movementstoward the middle ortoward the sides of the platform, the pair of alining-plates 20 areprovided,.each being secured, as indicated at 0, to an actuat-;

' ing-plate, said alining-plates, therefore, during operation, moving atright angles to the track-plates 1 in directions opposed to each otherwith their inner edges in engagement, while-working in the guides orbrackets 21, which are mounted on the outer sides of said track-plates;v.

On account of the construction as described, the movement of the'axle-levers,xas

to speed, willbe uniform. As soon as a rotatablem'ovement is imparted tothe crank-v shaft 9, a swinging movement will'be communicated to all ofthe axle-levers, and a nearest approach to each other, and the opposedaxle-levers adjacent to the ends of the track-platesl will be inengagement with a cross-plate 2 which limits their movements in onedirection, and they ,will be parallel as compared with each other; andwhen the arc of movement of 45 degrees for said axle-- levers has beencompleted they will be in engagement with the stop-members 22 providedby the ends of thecross-plates 2; and the .pair of axle-levers ofeachtrack-plate 1 will e then disposed at right-angles to each other, theactuating-plates being disposed at their greatest distance from eachother.

, As best shown in Fig. .1, theinner endsof the axle-levers are providedwith small wheels or rollers 23, adapted to engagethe upper sides of thesegmental tread-plates 4, to maintain the axle-levers in a horizontalposition, and it will be understood that by this construction thestresses occasioned by the weight of the load will be sustained by therollers 23 in conjunction with the wheels 7.

While the track-plates I'are preferably curved longitudinally as shownin the drawing, this is not a necessary feature, but regardless of'formand in order that the platform may be movedfreely, the wheels,obviously, should have such. adiameter that the track-plates will notengage the floor or base upon which the wheels are supported;

and therefore each track-plate is provided .at eachof its ends with aninclined shoe 24:

adapted to be elevated or lowered, as may be required, the movements ofsaid shoes to be simultaneous.

In ,the use of the shoes 24they may, lie

upon the' ground or other support to provide inclined treads for thewheels of an automobile so that the latter may be moved upwardly uponthe track-plates at one end 0 the platform, the shoes at the oppositeends of the track-plates engaging the ground or floor to temporarilyprevent a rearward 'movement of 'theplatform, this being a matter ofconvenience in operation. In order that the shoes may be under controlof an operator for elevating them from the floor so that the turntablemay be moved,

or-maybe swung downwardly to be pressed against the floor or ground, asmentioned, I provlde'mechanlsm for co1nc1dently moving sald shoes,consisting of an arrangement of pivotally connected rods, levers andlinks movable by a single operating-shaft 25 adapted-to be rotated alimited distance in either direction by use of a hand-lever26,

the arrangement of parts being substantially the-same at both ends ofthe track-plates, as Will be explained. Numerals 27 indicatecoupling-rods which connect the pairs of shoes at the respectiveadjacent ends of the track-plates.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the opcrating-shaft 25 is providedwith suitable bearings and is disposed transversely of, be-

low and adjacent to one of the ends of the track-plates.- It is adaptedto cause swinging movements of levers 28 carried by said shaft, saidlevers 28 causing actuation of links 29 with which they arepivotallyconnected, as indicated at 80. Numerals 31 indicate a pair of levershaving their inner ends pivotally connected with links 29, as indicatedat 32, each'lever-31 being fulcrumed to swing from a pivot 33 on theside of a track-plate, the outer ends of levers 31 beingpivotallyconnected with the sides of the shoes, as indicated at 34.

- Numerals 35 indicate a pair of pull-andpush rodsdisposed parallelwiththe trackplates, each having a mounting for one of its ends upon apivot30, adjacent to one It will thus be seen' that a rotatable movementof the operating-shaft in one direction will cause all of the shoes tomove upwardly.

. a limited. distance, this being desired so that they willnot. preventa free circular movement of the turntable; and the operatingshaft may berotated in an opposite direction to cause the shoes to move downwardlyfor engagement with the floor,- this being desirable when drivinganautomobile on the track-plates of the turntable.

In operation, the shoes, by a limited movement of the hand-lever 26 aremoved to their lowermost position, the fiat bottoms or I sides of theshoes then resting on the floor or ground for adequately supporting theweight when engaged by the wheels at the time an automobile is drivenupon the trackplates, the links 28 and 29 as well as: links 28 and 29,being so disposed that they also resist stresses directed to the shoes.

By areverse movement of the lever 26, an operator may then cause theshoes to be elevated, and by use of suitable handle-bars 36 theturntable together with its load may be moved forwardly or rearwardly,the axles 5 being at right angles to the track-plates and in engagementwith cross-plates 2, which operate as stops.

By causing a rotatable movement of the crank-shaft 9, the axle-levers 5may be swung degrees for engagement with the stop-members 22, and theturntable then may be swung to a desired position, the line of movementfor the wheels being acircle since the pivotal mountings 6 for theaxle-levers are equidistant from a common center, said center for thiscircular movement being the pivotal mounting l t for the rock-lever 15,said pivotal mounting 14: being at the intersection of the longitudinaland transverse axes of the platform. On account of the last namedfeatures, the mechanism moved by the crank-shaft 9 will be attended by alimited degree of friction, and the stresses will be adequatelysustained.

Numerals 37 indicate a pair of wings disposed adjacent to-the sides ofthe trackplates and supported in the positions shown, by suitablebrackets 38. They may be dispensed with in some instances but are cononthe sides of the shoes, as indicated at 34. Y

be moved in a circles are for engaging the venient as side steps whenleaving or entering an automobile mounted on the trackplates, thebrackets 38 having an adequate length so that the wings or steps thusprovided will be disposed a suitable distance from the track-plates.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis,--

1. In a portable turntable, a platform in cluding a pair ofsubstantially parallel track-plates, axles arranged in pairs, the axlesof each pair being pivotally mounted between their ends on a tracksplateequi-distant from a common, center and provided with wheels, and meansfor moving the axles inan are substantially of 45 degrees.

2. In a portable turntable, a platform provided with stop-members andwith second stop-members, axles arranged in pairs and provided withwheels, the axles of each pair being pivotally mounted between theirends adjacent to a side of the platform, said axles normally being inengagement with the first named stop-members and being adapted to 90second stop-members, the pivotal mounting for the axles beingequi-distant from a common center.

8. In a portable turntable, a platform provided with segmentaltrackways, a plurality of axles pivotally mounted on the platform midwaybetween their ends, wheels journaled on the axles at one of their endsand disposed above the platform for engaging the segmental trackways,wheels journaled on the opposite ends of the axles for engaging theground, and means for moving the axles in a circles arc with referenceto v the platform.

4. In-a portable turntable for automobiles,

.a platform, a pair of substantially parallel track-plates on theplatform for supporting the wheels of an automobile, axles pivotallymounted between their ends and arranged in pairs, each pair projectingoutwardly of 119 the sides adjacent to the ends of the platform, wheelson the axles, said axles being adapted to be disposed substantially atright angles to the track-plates for moving the platform forwardly orrearwardly and movable b the rotatable movements of the cranksha t, arock-lever movable by the i movements of the-draw-bar, a pair ofactuating-plates movable by the movements of the rock-lever, a pairofallining-plates movableby the movements of the actuating thealining-plates'.

plates, pivotallymounted axlesi'provided with wheels and normallydisposedlat right angles to" the track-plates, said axles being adaptedto have simultaneous movements in an are substantially of 45'degreeswith ref-- erence totheplatform by the movements of -7. In aportable turntab1e,'a platform provided with parallel track-plates,shoes projecting beyond the ends of the trackplates, axles pivotallymounted between their endson the platform and provided with wheels,means for simultaneously movengaging the ground, means for swinging ingthe axles horizontally inan arc substantially of degrees, means forsimultaneously elevating the shoes with reference to the track-plates,and means for simultaneouslylowering the shoes with reference to thetrack-plates. v

8. In a portable turntable, a platform provided with segmental trackwaysand a pair of track-plates, each track-plate having anoutwardly-projecting shoe, a plurality of axles pivotally mounted on theplatform midway between their ends, wheels journaled on the axles at oneof the ends thereof and disposed above the segmental trackways forengagement therewith, wheels journaled on the opposite ends of the axlesfor the axles in an arc of 45 degrees with reference to the platform,means to elevate the shoes coincidently, and means to lower the shoescoincidently with reference. to the track-plates.

9. In a portable urntable for automobiles, a platform, a pair ofparallel track-plates .on the platform for supporting the vwheels of anautomobile, each track-plate beingprovided with a'shoe projecting beyondits end axles pivotally mounted between their ends and arrang ed inpairs, each air projecting outwardly of the sides ad acent to the endsof the platform, wheels on the axles, said axles being adapted to bedisposed at rig'ht-anglesto the track-plates for I moving the platformforwardly or rearwardly and adapted to be moved in an arc of 45 degreesfor moving the platform circularly, a rotatable operating-shaft, and

mechanism connecting the operating-shaft and shoes for elevating orlowering said shoes with reference to the track-plates by medalsthefiotatable movements of said" operating 10. In a portable turntable,a platform provided with parallel track-plates, a rocklever'having apivotal mounting upon; and at the intersection of the longitudinal and@transverse'zixe of the platform, a plurality of axle-levers each havinga pivotal mount- 7 :ing equidistant from thepivotahmounting of therock-lever, wheels disposed outwardly ofthe track-plates and mountedon-the axlelevers, a crank-shaft, mechanism connecting the crankshaftwith the rock-lever, mechanism connecting the rock-lever with theaxle-levers, said crank-shaft being rotatable for causing coincidentswinging movements of the axle-levers in an arc of 45 degrees.

with reference to'the track-plates. I

11. In a portable turntable, a platform, a pair of parallel track-plateson the platjform, each being provided with a'shoe projecting-beyond itsterminal, a' rock-lever 'havmfg a pivotal mounting upon the'platformmidway between the track-plates, a

. plurality of axle-levers each having a pivotal mounting upon atrack-plate equidistant from the pivotal mounting of the rock-lever,

wheels on said-axle-levers, a rotatable crankshaft for actuating therock-lever, mechanism movable by the rock-lever and con nected with theaxle-levers for causing coincident swinging movements of said axleleversin an arc of 45 degrees, a rotatable operating-shaft, and'mechamsms'connecting and mechanism connecting the rock-lever andaxle-levers, said mechanism being movable by actuation of the rock-leverfor causing coincident swinging movements ofthe axle-levers in an arc of45 degrees with ref erence to said track-plates.

moveioo In testimony whereof I have afiixed my I signature in presenceof two witnesses,

JORGEN P. L. J ORGENSEN. Witnesses: t

HIRAM ALSTURGES, ARTHUR 'S'rnnens.

axle-levers, means to'actuatethe rock-lever,

